Where to hear classical music in Prague: St Nicholas, the Mirror Chapel, the Municipal House and the Rudolfinum, with prices, dates and official box offices for 2026.
Where to taste beer with a tour in Prague: Pilsner Urquell Experience, Staropramen, Břevnov Monastery and U Fleků, the beer museum, beer spas, 2026 prices and rules.
What a stag group needs to know before Prague: the night ban on pub crawls, where drinking outdoors is banned, night quiet, fines for noise and urinating, drugs, money and taxis, emergency numbers and what to do after a theft.
Which UK airports have direct flights to Prague in winter 2026/27 and summer 2027, which airlines fly them, how long the flight takes, what to know about Terminal 1 and liquids, and the train option via Brussels.
What a British citizen needs to enter Czechia in 2026 and 2027: no visa for up to 90 days, the two passport dates, EES fingerprints at Prague Airport, ETIAS status, GHIC, driving and a lost passport.
Who the president of the Czech Republic is in 2026: Petr Pavel's career and 2023 election, presidential powers under the Constitution, the difference from the prime minister, the next election, Prague Castle and Lány, and all presidents since 1993.
How much Prague costs in 2026 at the CNB rate: public transport and airport buses, the legal taxi maximum, museum tickets, beer, coffee and meals, and a sample sightseeing day in crowns, pounds, dollars and euros.
New Year's Eve in Prague 2026: where to be at midnight, New Year's cruises and concerts with prices, late-night transit, store hours and what is open on December 31 and January 1.
Leonids 2026 peak: night of 17–18 Nov, max 00:45 CET (23:45 GMT, 6:45 pm ET). Up to 10–15 meteors an hour, best 2–5:30 am after moonset. Where to watch.
How to register a car in Czechia: STK check, insurance, ORP office. 800 Kč fee (640 online), emission fee, VAT, customs for non-EU cars, Prague offices, who can register.
Which castles near Prague are open in winter 2026/27: days and hours December–March, Christmas tours and Ryba's mass, prices, booking, trains and buses after the December 13 timetable change, and what stays closed until spring.
What Americans in Czechia need to know about the U.S. Embassy in Prague: address and security rules, appointments, passport renewal and emergency passports, CRBA, notary, benefits, voting and holiday closures in 2026.
What is open in Prague on December 24, 25 and 26, 2026: the store law, Prague Castle, museums and the zoo, Christmas markets, transit, midnight Mass and restaurants.
When a foreigner becomes a Czech tax resident, what it means for worldwide income, how dual residence is settled, how to get a certificate and what US citizens must file.
Where to eat Thanksgiving dinner in Prague on November 26, 2026, where to order a whole turkey, find canned pumpkin and cranberry sauce, and what the American community and the U.S. Embassy have planned.
Who can claim Czech citizenship by descent from the United States and who cannot, which documents and which consulate you need, how long it takes and what it costs in 2026.
What the Viking pre- and post-cruise extension in Prague includes, on which itineraries it is sold, prices for 2026 and 2027, free time, tipping and practical tips for travelers over 60.
A first-timer's plan for Prague, Vienna and Budapest by train: how many nights in each city, train times, tickets, stations, three currencies and border checks, checked November 2026.
How visitors who live outside the EU, including Americans, get Czech VAT back: the 2026 rules, the minimum purchase, how much you get, deadlines and the customs stamp at Prague Airport.
How to get from Prague to your river cruise ship in Passau, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Vilshofen, Dresden, Děčín, Vienna or Budapest: trains, buses, driving times, docks and cruise line transfers in 2026 and 2027.
What Den válečných veteránů on November 11 is, why Czechs wear red poppies, where to get one, where the donations go and which ceremonies take place in Prague.
What a US citizen needs to enter Czechia in 2026 and 2027: no visa for up to 90 days, passport validity, EES at the first Schengen airport, ETIAS status, insurance, cash and medicines.
Ski areas in the Czech Šumava for 2026/27: Špičák, Zadov–Churáňov, Nové Hutě, Hartmanice, cross-country trails, lift pass prices, night skiing and how to get there.
Christmas markets in Czech towns outside Prague in 2026: dates, opening hours, main squares and train times from Prague, plus what is not yet published.
Vietnamese markets in Potůčky, near Cheb, in Hřensko and Strážný: what is officially confirmed, fakes, paying in crowns and rules for bringing fireworks into Germany.
What to see in Františkovy Lázně (Franzensbad), how a spa cure works, the 2026 stay fee, what is open in winter and how to get there from Prague and Bavaria.
Klínovec in the Ore Mountains next to Boží Dar: 2026/27 lift pass prices, lifts and slopes, night skiing, rental, cross-country trails and how to get there from Prague.
Whether border controls between Czechia, Germany and Austria are in force in November 2026, until when, and which documents residents and visitors should carry.
What you may take from Czechia into Germany and Austria and back without tax in 2026: cigarettes, heated tobacco, alcohol, fuel in a canister, cash and what happens above the limits.
What changes in Czechia from 1 January 2027: wages, pensions, taxes and EET, self-employed contributions, the vignette, temporary protection. Only adopted and published rules, with a separate list of pending proposals.
When and at what time the clocks change in Czechia, dates for 2027-2031, the time difference with Moscow, Kyiv, London and New York, the EU abolition status, trains and phones.
How much Czech pensions rise on 1 January 2027, the average pension, how retirement age and insurance years are counted, and how to apply, including for foreigners.
What to see in Cheb in winter 2026: the square and Špalíček, the castle, the museum, Františkovy Lázně and Soos, plus trains, driving and border rules from Bavaria and Prague.
How to visit Liberec in a day: getting there from Prague and Dresden, the Ještěd cable car and 2026/27 ski pass, town hall, zoo, iQLANDIA, the tram to Jablonec, where to stay.
How to visit Znojmo from Prague, Brno and Vienna: the Underground, the Town Hall Tower, wine and Podyjí National Park, what is open in November and winter, 2026 prices and timetables.
What a ski day in Pec pod Sněžkou costs in 2026/27, which areas one pass covers, how to get there from Prague, Dresden and Berlin and what is open in November.
What to see in Marienbad: the colonnade, the Singing Fountain and its season, free springs, spa pools and saunas, UNESCO status, winter opening and the way from Prague, Nuremberg and Munich.
What a ski day in Harrachov costs in 2026/27, how to get there from Prague, Dresden and Berlin, and what is open in November: glassworks, brewery, museums, waterfall.
How to spend a day in Budweis (České Budějovice) from Prague: trains, the Budvar brewery tour, the main square, what is open in winter and the 2026 Advent market.
How to visit the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks from Prague: 2026 prices, booking a time slot and parking, trails, the lake boats, winter and how to get there.
Lake Lipno in 2026: what is open in November, the Treetop Walk, skiing, ice skating, how to get there from Prague, Munich and Vienna, and where to stay.
How to reach Sněžka, the highest mountain in Czechia: the cable car, prices and hours, hiking trails, winter rules, the Polish side and travel from Prague, Dresden and Berlin.
What a ski day in Špindlerův Mlýn costs in 2026/27, how to get there from Prague, which area to choose, what to do in summer and what is open in November.
How to visit Bohemian Paradise (Český ráj) from Prague: trains, buses and driving, Prachov Rocks and Hruboskalsko, castles, walks with distances and what is open in winter.
Which Prague flea markets really still run: U Elektry, Heřmaňák, the ANTIQUE fair and the Buštěhrad collectors' market, with addresses, days, entry and transport.
Where to leave your bags in Prague: Main Station lockers, left luggage at Masarykovo and Florenc, Airport Terminal 2, city-centre lockers and booking apps.
Which Prague district suits which night out, 23 confirmed bars and clubs with hours, how to get home after midnight, the rules that catch visitors out and common scams.
What to buy in advance in Prague and what can wait: the Castle, Old Town Hall tower, Jewish Museum, Petřín, National Theatre, Karlštejn, Sedlec, Christmas and the airport.
How to spend a day in Pilsen from Prague: train and bus, the Pilsner Urquell brewery tour, the Brewery Museum, the Historical Underground, the Great Synagogue, the cathedral and ideas for kids, with 2026 prices.
Charles Bridge in Prague: a short history, the statues worth finding, where to see the originals, 2026 tower tickets and hours, quieter times, photo spots, the museum and the rules.
How to get from Prague to Karlštejn Castle: the S7 train, the walk from the station, tours, booking the Chapel of the Holy Cross, 2026 prices and hours, winter closures and nearby stops.
What is free at Prague Castle, what tickets cost, when the buildings and gardens open, where to watch the changing of the guard and how to plan your visit in 2026.
How to see Bohemian Switzerland on a day trip from Prague: Pravčická Gate, the Kamenice gorges at Hřensko, trains and buses, 2026 tickets and hours, and what is closed since the 2022 fire.
Prague Astronomical Clock show times, what happens on the hour, how to read the dial, where to stand, the Old Town Hall tower and lift, the underground, and 2026 tickets and hours.
How to see Český Krumlov on a day trip from Prague: bus or train, the castle and tower, the Baroque Theatre, Latrán, rafting the Vltava, 2026 prices and what closes in winter.
How safe Prague is for tourists: police data, pickpockets, exchange offices and the 3-hour rule, paying in crowns, taxis, tipping, 2026 bans and fines, and what to do if you are robbed.
Compare Prague's neighbourhoods, pick a hotel or hostel by class and occasion, work out the city tax and see how apartments differ from hotels in 2026.
What a taxi costs in Prague in 2026: the official fare cap, Uber, Bolt and Liftago, the airport taxi, sample route prices and where to complain if you are overcharged.
What the Prague Visitor Pass costs in 2026, what it includes, how activation and refunds work, whether it pays off over 2 or 3 days, and how it differs from the Prague Card.
When Advent starts in 2026 and what to do in Prague: Christmas markets, tree lightings, nativity scenes, Advent concerts and Czech customs before Christmas.
Where to board a Vltava river cruise in Prague, what sightseeing, dinner and jazz cruises cost, what runs in winter and how to ride a ferry on a transport ticket.
How to visit Karlovy Vary and Mariánské Lázně from Prague: colonnades, drinking the spring water, Becherovka, Moser glass, the Singing Fountain and transport.
How to visit the Terezín Memorial from Prague: the history of the Small Fortress and the ghetto, what to see, tickets, opening hours, the bus and visitor etiquette.
How to spend a day in Kutná Hora from Prague: the train, the Sedlec Ossuary, St Barbara's, the Italian Court and the silver mine, with 2026 prices and opening hours.
Which Senate seats are on the ballot on 3 November 2026, which races forecasters rate as toss-ups, what a change of control would mean and when the polls close.
In September 2026 a litre of diesel at Czech petrol stations cost CZK 49.21 on average — the highest since the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ) started recording fuel prices in 2001 and 48% more than a year earlier. Natural 95 petrol cost CZK
Say “Dobrý den” when you walk into a shop, use the formal “vy” until a Czech offers “ty”, take your shoes off in someone's home, and never let a waiter take your beer mat by mistake. These are the unwritten rules that Czechs rarely explain
You can find work in Prague without Czech, mostly in IT, international business services, customer support, hospitality and teaching English. The pay gap between those jobs is huge: by the Around Prague Salary Table, a software developer in
Czechia's Digital Nomad Program lets IT and marketing specialists from 12 countries live in Czechia on a long-term visa while working remotely for a foreign employer or as freelancers with a Czech trade licence. Eligible citizenships are Au
The quickest way to see an English-speaking doctor in Prague is a private clinic such as Canadian Medical or Unicare, or the foreigners' departments of Motol and Na Homolce hospitals. If you have Czech public health insurance, you can also
Prague has more than 25 international schools, and full IB or British schools typically cost CZK 300,000–830,000 a year, rising with the child's age. The biggest are the International School of Prague, Prague British International School, R
Czech parents get two main benefits: maternity benefit (peněžitá pomoc v mateřství, PPM), which pays 70% of your reduced daily earnings for 28 weeks, and parental allowance (rodičovský příspěvek), a total of CZK 350,000 per child that you d
Since January 2026, unemployment benefit in Czechia starts at 80% of your previous average net pay, up to CZK 38,537 a month. It drops to 50% and then 40%, and is paid for 5 months if you are 52 or younger, 8 months between 52 and 57, and 1
If you are an employee in Czechia and fall ill, your employer pays you for the first 14 days, and the Czech Social Security Administration (ČSSZ) pays sickness benefit from day 15. Both are calculated from your reduced average earnings: 60%
To get an EU Blue Card in Czechia, you need a job offer for at least six months paying at least CZK 73,823 gross a month, and a university degree of at least three years. That salary threshold applies from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2027. The M
Switching your electricity or gas supplier in Czechia is free, and the new supplier does the paperwork for you. What decides how fast you can switch is your current contract: an open-ended contract usually has a three-month notice period, a
Czechia has 13 public holidays in 2027, but only 9 fall on weekdays. May 1, May 8, December 25 and December 26 land on a weekend, and Czech law does not move holidays to a weekday, so 2027 has four fewer days off than 2026. The longest brea
This New Year's Eve, fireworks are banned all year round in 35 of Prague's 57 districts, including the whole city centre (Prague 1, 2 and 3). In the remaining districts, such as Prague 4, you may set off fireworks only from 17:00 on 31 Dece
Since 10 April 2026, non-EU travellers entering Czechia for a short stay are registered in the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES): border officers scan the passport, take a facial image and fingerprints, and the system replaces passport stamps. E
In Czechia, winter tyres are compulsory from 1 November to 31 March whenever there is a continuous layer of snow, ice or frost on the road, or when such conditions can be expected given the weather. On roads marked with the “Zimní výbava” (
Forty offers from subcontractors, and they all promise the same thing. Where hiring welders and installers in Germany really goes wrong and the six questions to ask before signing.
In 2026, Ukrainians with temporary protection (dočasná ochrana) can work in Czechia without a work permit — for any employer, in any position, on an employment contract or a work agreement. The Czech Labour Office (Úřad práce) says it plain
The zaměstnanecká karta (Czech employee card) is a residence permit for non-EU citizens. It lets you live in Czechia and work for a specific employer in a specific job. It is issued for a maximum of 2 years. The fee is CZK 2,500 if you appl
The Czech minimum wage in 2026 is CZK 22,400 gross a month, or CZK 134.40 an hour for a 40-hour week. Full-time, that leaves CZK 19,011 net (about €779). From 1 January 2027 the minimum wage rises to CZK 24,900, or CZK 148.30 an hour. The a
Heading off on a trip abroad — to Italy, Egypt, Turkey, or a ski resort in Austria? Then you need travel (travel medical) insurance for the duration of your trip. It covers treatment if you fall ill or get injured on the road, evacuation ba
Renting a car in Czechia is a convenient way to get beyond Prague — castles, Český Krumlov, the Krkonoše mountains, or a quick trip to neighbouring Austria or Germany. But local rental firms have their own rules: a deposit gets blocked on y
Prague Airport is one of the most convenient hubs for budget travel around Europe. If you live in Czechia and fly regularly — for a weekend in a European capital or to visit family — the difference between a smart search and a lazy one can
Czech seems intimidating only in the first few months: the cases, the vowel-dropping and words without a single vowel, like “zmrzl”, can be off-putting, but the system is actually quite logical, and everyday life only requires a basic level
Renting out a flat in Prague is not as complicated as it sounds, but between “post an ad” and “earn steady income without headaches” lie several important steps: choosing the right listing platforms, screening a prospective tenant, drafting
If you live in Czechia and want your savings to work rather than lose value to inflation, investing in stocks and ETFs is one of the most straightforward ways to start. The good news: you don’t need Czech citizenship, and local tax rules fo
Czechia's tallest waterfall hides in the Giant Mountains: the Pančava stream plunges off the edge of a plateau and drops 148 meters in four stages into the Elbe Valley. You can get there in half a day, and admission is free — here's how. Wh
Russian pyramid is known in Czechia as ruská pyramida, but tables for it are far from everywhere: most Prague clubs are set up for pool and snooker. Here's where to find the right table, how these games differ, and how much time to allow. H
You submitted your application, and it's been over a month with no decision. The law gives the office 60 days — and once that deadline passes, you gain the right to demand action. Here's how to track your case and what to do once the deadli
Citizenship is the next step after permanent residency. The requirements here are noticeably stricter: B1-level language proficiency, a civics exam, and a total stay of ten years. Here is what the process involves and what it costs. How lon
Five years of continuous residence — and you can apply for permanent residency. This status removes the tie to your original purpose of stay, gives you access to the state health insurance system on equal terms with citizens, and opens the
An international transfer is one of the first everyday tasks almost every expat in Czechia runs into: moving savings to a local account, getting paid by a client abroad, or sending money to family back home. The gap between a “bad” and a “g
You land in Prague, and right at the airport you already need the internet: to call a taxi, open a map, message your landlord. Here's how to stay connected literally from the moment you step off the plane: how eSIM differs from a regular SI
Prague Airport (Letiště Václava Havla, code PRG, formerly known as Ruzyně) sits on the northwestern edge of the city. There's no metro line to the airport, so getting downtown means taking a bus or trolleybus to the nearest metro station, r
A half-day delay, a flight cancelled the night before departure, or “no seats left” right at the check-in desk — every regular traveler out of Prague has been there. The good news: the European regulation EU 261/2004 entitles passengers to
Which outdoor ice rinks open in Prague in the 2026/27 season, when they open and close, what a session and skate hire cost. Checked on official sites on November 12, 2026.
In Czechia, the sauna is a normal part of the week, not an event. There's one in almost every district pool, and it costs less than lunch. Here's where to go, how much to pay, and why it's easy to put your foot in it in a Czech sauna if you
Halloween is celebrated in Czechia, but far more modestly than you might expect. The real autumn occasion here is different — Dušičky, the commemoration of the dead on 2 November, when cemeteries glow with thousands of candles. Here's what
Once a year, a drink appears in Czechia that you can neither buy at any other time nor take home with you: burčák lasts only a few days and keeps fermenting right there in the bottle. Here's when the season starts, where to drink it in Prag
A good check-up is not dozens of tests and a full-body MRI but a considered plan for one specific person. How to build it, and what not to do ‘just in case’ — with Dobro Clinic, a Prague clinic for foreigners.
The bank does not assess the payment you will actually make — it assesses the payment at a rate two points higher. Here is the net income needed for a flat costing 3 to 7 million, where the limits come from, and why at current rates it is the monthly payment that stops applications, not the size of the debt.
A foreigner has been able to buy property in Czechia without restrictions since 2011. The difficulty is not the purchase but the loan: every bank has its own requirements for residence status, citizenship and where your income comes from. We go through the banks one by one — who insists on trvalý pobyt, for whom an ordinary residence permit is enough, and why holders of temporary protection are not given a mortgage.
A self-employed person's tax return shows a legally reduced profit, thanks to paušální výdaje or the paušální daň regime. The bank, however, wants to see income. We look at how banks get around this: they credit a percentage of turnover, trim the flat-rate expenses back down, or ask for bank statements. With concrete figures from the methodologies currently in force.
Plumbing problems rarely happen at a convenient time. A tap starts dripping just when you are getting ready for bed. Water stops draining properly from the kitchen sink. A small puddle appears in the bathroom, even though everything was dry the day before. Sometimes you only notice something is wrong when you open the cabinet under the sink and discover that the bottom is already wet.
When a move is still just a plan, everything seems fairly straightforward. Pack your belongings, arrange a van and take everything to the new address. What could go wrong?
A curated list of trusted veterinary clinics in Prague, including facilities offering round-the-clock (nonstop) service and night/weekend emergency care (pohotovost), as well as
A curated list of trusted specialists and organisations offering psychological and psychotherapeutic support in Russian and Ukrainian in Prague and across Czechia.
How to use Prague's public transport: metro, trams, buses, PID tickets and fares, the Lítačka app, zones, night lines and payment — a step-by-step guide for foreigners.
Long-term visas, residence permits and employee cards in Prague are handled by the Interior Ministry's OAMP offices, while the Foreign Police registers your address and extends short-term visas. Almost every OAMP visit — submitting an application, biometrics, an extension — needs an appointment booked online in advance, and slots fill up fast.
Prague has private and international clinics where you can be seen in Russian, Ukrainian, and English — no language barrier, no long waits typical of state polyclinics
A foreigner's overview of Prague's neighborhoods: Vinohrady, Smíchov, Žižkov, Holešovice, Dejvice, Karlín. Atmosphere, transport, prices, and who each area suits best.
The safest neighborhoods for living in Prague are Prague 6 (Dejvice, Bubeneč, Střešovice), Letná, Vinohrady, Vyšehrad, and the quiet outskirts to the north and east — Kobylisy, Prosek, and Čakovice. Pickpockets and petty theft are really on
Whether a parcel needs customs clearance in Czechia depends on where it's coming from. Parcels from EU countries arrive freely — no duty, no repeated DPH (VAT), just like a regular domestic shipment. Parcels from outside the EU (China, the
To buy a RegioJet train ticket in Czechia, open regiojet.cz or the RegioJet mobile app, choose your route, date, and number of passengers, then pick a coach class and specific seat, and pay by card — the e-ticket lands in your inbox and pop
Re-registering a car in Czechia (přepis) to a new owner must be done within 10 working days of the vehicle's transfer — at any registr vozidel (the obecní úřad of an ORP) or online via the Portál dopravy. The standard administrative fee for
Car sharing in Prague works as pay-by-the-minute car rental through an app: you find the nearest car on the map, unlock it with your phone, drive off, and leave it anywhere within the allowed zone. The two main free-floating operators are A
Czech e-vignette: year 2,570 Kč, 30 days 480, 10 days 300, 1 day 230 Kč, same prices in 2027. How to buy on edalnice.gov.cz, plate changes, exemptions, fines, tips for visitors.
Czech POINT in plain terms: it's a universal one-stop contact point of the state administration (in full, Český Podací Ověřovací Informační Národní Terminál) where, with a single ID document, you can obtain certified extracts from state reg
The Czech alphabet has 42 letters: the familiar Latin script plus letters with diacritics — the háček (č, š, ž, ř), the čárka marking vowel length (á, é, í), and the kroužek above ů. Czech is read almost exactly as it's written, stress alwa
Christmas in Czechia (Vánoce) revolves around one central evening — Štědrý den on 24 December, when the family sits down to carp and potato salad, and gifts appear under the tree not from Santa but from Ježíšek. But the Czech festive calend
Registering a child's name in Czechia is done at the matriční úřad (registry office) covering the place of birth. You can give one or two different names — Czech or foreign — and you need to settle on them within one month of the birth. If
Family reunification in Czechia (Czech: sloučení rodiny, officially "dlouhodobý pobyt za účelem společného soužití rodiny") is a residence permit that lets you bring your spouse and minor children to join you if you're already legally livin
Registering for DPH (Czech VAT) becomes mandatory for a self-employed person (OSVČ) once annual turnover exceeds 2,000,000 CZK in a calendar year — at that point you become a VAT payer (plátce DPH). If turnover crosses the second, higher th
A preventive check-up in Czechia (preventivní prohlídka) is completely free for everyone insured under the public healthcare system — VZP, ČPZP, OZP, ZP MV ČR and other insurance funds. Adults are entitled to a check-up with a GP once every
Where to exchange money in Prague: real office rates against the Czech National Bank rate, when a card or ATM is cheaper, and your legal right to cancel an exchange within 3 hours.
The most common rental scams in Prague involve demanding prepayment or a reservation deposit (rezervace) before you've even seen the flat, a fake owner who "is abroad and will mail you the keys," and phishing links to fraudulent payment pag
In Czechia, a passenger car goes through its first STK roadworthiness inspection 4 years after initial registration, then every 2 years after that. In 2026, a full inspection including emissions testing costs roughly 2,000–2,700 CZK and tak
A criminal record certificate in Czechia is the výpis z rejstříku trestů, and you can get one in a few minutes at any Czech POINT location — a Česká pošta branch or your city úřad — for 100 Kč. Online, through Portál občana with Identita ob
How do you get příspěvek na bydlení in 2026? Short answer: the old-style housing benefit no longer exists — as of 1 October 2025 it was replaced by a single dávka státní sociální pomoci (state social assistance benefit), known as the superd
Dental care in Czechia in 2026 is partly covered by public health insurance, while everything else varies widely by clinic and region: dental hygiene runs roughly 800–2,200 Kč, a composite filling at a private clinic costs 1,200–3,000 Kč, a
Opening an s.r.o. in Czechia in 2026 means signing the founding document before a notary (in person or online), obtaining a trade licence (živnostenské oprávnění) for 1,000 Kč, paying in share capital starting from 1 Kč, and registering the
Identita občana — how can a foreigner with a residence permit or permanent residency get one? The fastest way is to activate BankID through your Czech bank's online banking: it takes a couple of minutes and requires no trips to any office.
Free Czech language courses for foreigners in Czechia are run by integration centers — Integrační centrum Praha (ICP) in the capital and the regional Centra na podporu integrace cizinců (CPIC) — as well as by nonprofit organizations and cou
Where to look for an apartment in Prague: the main platforms are Sreality.cz, Bezrealitky.cz, and UlovDomov.cz, plus Facebook and Telegram groups where owners rent out directly. Sreality has the largest database, but almost all listings com
A rental agreement in Czechia comes in two forms: nájem — a direct contract with the property owner, which gives the tenant strong protection under the civil code, and podnájem — a sublease arranged through the primary tenant, where protect
Short answer: an employment contract (HPP) almost always wins on protection — paid leave, sick pay from day 15, severance pay, and a pension your employer builds up for you. A trade license (OSVČ) usually wins on take-home money — roughly f
Pediatricians in Czechia (praktický lékař pro děti a dorost, PLDD for short) look after children from birth up to roughly age 19: preventive checkups, mandatory vaccinations, treating illnesses, and issuing prescriptions. As of January 1, 2
To renew a long-term residence permit in Czechia, you need comprehensive health insurance (komplexní zdravotní pojištění) with coverage of at least EUR 400,000 per insured event, valid for the entire period of the requested stay. A standard
Giving birth in Czechia is available to foreigners regardless of status — with a long-term residence permit, permanent residence, or even without any residence permit at all: no hospital can legally refuse to deliver your baby. The real que
Work in Czechia for Russians without knowing the language mostly means warehouses, manufacturing, logistics, construction, cleaning, and hotels — and with English, international companies in Prague and Brno. The key factor in 2026 isn't lan
The easiest way to check a car by VIN in Czechia is through Cebia: on cz.cebia.com you enter the VIN, see for free how many records on the car exist in the database and for what period, and if you want, purchase the full AUTOTRACER report —
Diploma nostrification in Czechia is the official recognition of foreign education as equivalent to Czech education. Secondary school certificates and vocational diplomas are recognized by the regional authority (Krajský úřad) in your place
Individuals in Czechia file their tax return (daňové přiznání) for 2025 with their local tax office (finanční úřad) by April 1, 2026 on paper, or by May 4, 2026 electronically via the MOJE daně portal or Datová schránka. If your return is p
The flat-rate tax in Czechia (paušální daň) is a single monthly payment for self-employed OSVČ that replaces three separate obligations at once: income tax, social insurance, and health insurance. Three bands apply in 2026 — 9,162, 16,745 a
Health insurance for foreigners in Czechia comes in two types: comprehensive insurance (komplexní) — for long-term visas and permanent residence permits, and insurance for necessary and urgent care (nutná a neodkladná péče) — for short trip
Buying a used car in Czechia in 2026 comes down to a few clear steps: find a car on Sauto, TipCars, AAA Auto or Bazoš, check its history by VIN, sign a written contract, and register the change of ownership (přepis) at the vehicle registry
Useful Czech phrases for everyday life aren't a tourist phrasebook — they're expressions for real situations: a doctor's appointment, a window at the úřad, a call to your landlord, the checkout at a supermarket. This collection has 100+ phr
A driving school (autoškola) is the only route to a category B licence from scratch in Czechia: the full course takes 2–3 months on average and costs roughly 15,000–32,000 CZK in Prague, plus a 700 CZK administrative fee for the exam. The e
Recognition of a medical diploma in Czechia goes through aprobation (aprobační zkouška) — a mandatory state exam for medical professionals who trained outside the European Union. Without a passed aprobation, you cannot work as a doctor, den
To collect a parcel from Zásilkovna, wait for an SMS, email, or in-app notification with a six-digit code, then pick up your order at a Z-BOX locker (open 24/7) or at a pickup point (výdejní místo). At a Z-BOX, you simply key in the code on
A tax refund in Czechia means getting back overpaid income tax (daň z příjmů) after filing your annual daňové přiznání (tax return) and applying the tax credits (slevy na dani) and deductions from the tax base (nezdanitelné části) you're en
Russian and Ukrainian shops in Prague mean, above all, the Vlaštovka ("Ласточка") and Jablonka ("Яблонька") chains, Mix Markt supermarkets, and the newly arrived Ukrainian chain Best Market — these are the easiest places to find familiar pr
Utility bills in Czechia are made up of rent (nájem), energy (energie — elektřina and plyn), water (vodné a stočné), heating (teplo), internet, and building fees (SVJ, fond oprav). When you move in, you pay monthly advances (zálohy), and on
To see a doctor in Czechia, the first step is to register (registrace) with a general practitioner for adults — praktický lékař pro dospělé. Find a doctor who's taking new patients, bring your insurance card (kartička/průkaz pojištěnce) and
The rental deposit in Czechia (legally called jistota, commonly known as kauce) may not exceed three months' rent and must be returned to the tenant at the end of the tenancy — minus any genuine debts. If the contract doesn't specify an exa
The Czech language exam for permanent residency (A2) is a mandatory language test for obtaining permanent residence (trvalý pobyt) in Czechia. From 11 April 2026, an updated format takes effect: the level stays the same — A2 — but the Writi
Setting up home internet in Czechia comes down to three steps: first check which technologies are available at your specific address, then pick a provider and plan, and only after that sign a contract and wait for activation or installation
In 2026, a car with Ukrainian plates can only be legally driven in Czechia if it has been entered into the special evidence vozidel s ukrajinskou SPZ (register of Ukrainian vehicles, IS UA). This has been a legal requirement since January 1
Car insurance in Czechia is called povinné ručení — mandatory third-party liability insurance required by law, covering damage you cause to other people. Without valid povinné ručení, a car cannot legally be driven on Czech roads: the Česká
A sworn translator in Czechia (in Czech, soudní překladatel) is a specialist listed in the official register kept by the Ministry of Justice, whose translations are recognized by every Czech úřad (authority). Their work — known as soudní př
The cheapest way to send money abroad from Czechia is through Wise or Revolut: both use the real market (mid-market) exchange rate and charge a transparent fee of roughly 0.3–1%, while a standard bank transfer quietly loses you another 2–4%
To get a trade license in Czechia (živnostenský list, OSVČ status), you need to file an application (ohlášení) with any Živnostenský úřad in person or online via the Portál živnostenského podnikání, pay a state fee of 1000 Kč (800 Kč for el
The best bank in Czechia for a foreigner in 2026 is Air Bank, Fio banka, or ČSOB if you want a completely free account with no strings attached, and Raiffeisenbank if English-language app and support matter to you (this account is also free
To open an account with a Czech bank as a foreigner, in most cases all you need is your passport plus a second form of ID — and, if you're from outside the EU, a residence permit or visa as well. Czech law guarantees your right to a basic a
You can change your health insurance company (zdravotní pojišťovna) in Czechia only once every 12 months, and only as of 1 January or 1 July. The application (přihláška) must be submitted to the new insurer at least 3 months before the switch: by 31 March if you want to switch from 1 July, and by 30
To read labels in a Czech supermarket with confidence, it helps to know a handful of key words: flour types (hladká, polohrubá, hrubá), fat percentages on dairy, the difference between máslo and rostlinný tuk, and the two expiry dates — spotřebujte do and minimální trvanlivost.
In Czechia, notations like 2+kk or 3+1 in property listings work like this: the first number is the count of living rooms, while "+kk" or "+1" tells you the kitchen type. "kk" (kuchyňský kout) means a kitchenette built into the living room, while "+1"
Apostilles in Czechia are issued by three authorities: the Ministerstvo zahraničních věcí (MZV, Ministry of Foreign Affairs) — for most documents (matriční doklady, certificates, diplomas after preliminary certification); the Ministerstvo spravedlnosti (Ministry of Justice) — for court and enforcement (exekutorské) documents; and the Notářská komora ČR (Czech Notarial Chamber) — for notarial deeds. Which authority you need depends entirely on who issued your document.
Traffic fines in Czechia in 2026 range from 1,500 Kč for minor offenses to 75,000 Kč for refusing an alcohol test, and along with the fine, the driver receives 2, 4, or 6 penalty points. Once you rack up 12 points, you lose your driving privileg
In Czechia, almost all medicine prescriptions are issued electronically — this is the eRecept (electronic prescription). Instead of a stamped piece of paper, the doctor sends you a 12-digit identifier (identifikátor) by SMS, e-mail, or on a printout, and
How to call an ambulance in Czechia: dial 155 — the direct line to the medical dispatch service (zdravotnická záchranná služba, ZZS), where calls are answered by medical professionals. If your Czech isn't good enough, call 112: operators on the pan-European emergency line also speak
In Czechia, name days are called svátek: every day of the year has one or more names assigned to it in the calendar, and whoever bears that name celebrates almost like a second birthday. Congratulating a colleague, neighbor, or acquaintance on their svátek is simply good
The cost of living in Prague in 2026 comes to roughly 27,000–37,000 Kč a month per person, rent included. A couple needs about 42,000–55,000 Kč, a family with a child around 56,000–73,000 Kč, and a student in a dorm can get by on 13,500–19,0
Bringing a pet into Czechia is allowed under three basic conditions: an ISO-standard microchip, a valid rabies vaccination given no later than 21 days before travel, and the right paperwork — either an EU pet passport or an EU veterinary certificate. If you're travelling from a country outside the EU's "listed" group — which currently excludes Russia, Belarus and Ukraine — you'll also need a rabies antibody titre test and a mandatory 3-month wait after the blood draw.
Discount apps in Czechia fall into three groups: leaflet aggregators led by Kupi.cz, retail chain loyalty apps — Lidl Plus, Kaufland Card, Tesco Clubcard — and cashback services Tipli and Plná peněženka. All of them are free, registration takes a couple of minutes, and Kupi.cz itself estimates average savings on promotional purchases at around 30%.
To enroll your child in school in Czechia, submit an admission application (žádost o přijetí) to a primary school — základní škola — during the official enrollment period, zápis, which since 2026 runs from January 15 to February 15 instead of April, as before.
Parking zones in Prague are the city's paid street-parking system, officially called zóny placeného stání. Streets are marked with three colours: blue zones are for residents with long-term permits, purple zones are mixed and open to anyone who pays, and orange zones are for short stops only. Visitors typically pay 40 to 80 CZK per hour depending on the price band, while a district resident with a valid permit buys an annual resident permit for 600–1,200 CZK.
How to move out of a flat in Czechia without losing money: submit a written výpověď z nájmu (notice to terminate) at least 3 months in advance, or sign a dohoda o ukončení nájmu (termination agreement) with the owner setting a convenient end date. Then hand over the flat using a proper handover protocol with meter readings, transfer the utilities, get your kauce back, and
Emergency numbers in Czechia consist of the single number 112 plus direct lines for each service: 155 — ambulance, 158 — State Police (Policie ČR), 156 — municipal police (městská policie), 150 — fire brigade (hasiči), and 1210 — mountain rescue (Horská služba
Having a baby in Czechia triggers four mandatory processes for foreign parents: obtaining the rodný list birth certificate at the matrika, registering the child with a health insurer within 8 days, filing the child's residence permit application within
Kindergarten enrollment in Czechia (zápis do mateřské školy) in 2026 runs from March 15 to April 15 — the exact day within this window is set by each kindergarten together with the municipality. Applications go directly to the chosen kindergarten, and a guaranteed spot is granted to children age 3+ who live in its catchment area.
A drogerie in Czechia is a store selling cosmetics, household chemicals, hygiene products and other home essentials, and the country's three big chains are dm, Rossmann and Teta. In short: dm keeps stable long-term prices and is known for its own brands, Rossmann
Changing your address in Czechia as a foreigner with a long-term residence permit isn't just a move — you're legally required to report your new address to the Ministry of Interior's OAMP (hlášení změny místa pobytu) within 30 days if you plan to live at the new place for longer than 30 days.
Marrying a foreigner in Czechia is arranged through the matriční úřad (matrika) — the civil registry office at the town or district authority. The foreign partner will need a passport, a birth certificate, and a certificate of legal capacity to marry (vysvědčení o právní způsobilosti k uzavření manželství) no older than 6 months, while citizens of non-EU countries must also provide a police certificate confirming legal stay, no older than 7 working days before the wedding.
As of July 2026, the best savings account rates in Czechia stand at 4.0–4.25% per annum. The formal top rate comes from the Artesa cooperative at 4.25%, though it requires a mandatory membership contribution; among banks, mBank leads with 4.21%, followed by Raiffei
Rohlik is usually where people in Czechia start when it comes to grocery delivery: orders over 749 Kč arrive the same day, delivery is free from 1500 Kč, and its coverage area has long since spread beyond Prague — after expanding into southern Bohemia, the company now says it reaches nearly the whole country.
Which mobile operator to choose in Czechia depends on two things: how much data you need and whether you're willing to sign a contract. Short answer: for no-strings-attached savings, go with a virtual operator like Kaktus or Mobil.cz — starting at 250 Kč a month
You don't need to pay crypto tax in Czechia in 2026 if you've held your coins for more than 3 years, or if your total proceeds from crypto sales in a calendar year didn't exceed 100,000 Kč. In all other cases, profit must be declared as
Where can you buy groceries cheaply in Prague? Short answer: the cheapest basic basket with no discounts at all is at the discounter Lidl, while if you're willing to use store apps, Albert comes out on top. An April 2026 comparison confirmed this with hard numbers
A step-by-step checklist for your first weeks in Czechia: documents and address, bank account, SIM and internet, health insurance, housing, transport and language — in order, without unnecessary bureaucracy.
Ukrainians with temporary protection can drive on their licence until March 2028. Who must exchange within 3 months, how to do it at Na Pankráci, 200/700 Kč, no exams.
A step-by-step guide to extending temporary protection for Ukrainians in Czechia: the two mandatory steps, the 2026 deadlines, the extension to 31 March 2028 and what to do if you missed the deadline.
How much a monthly, quarterly and annual public transport pass costs in Prague in 2026, where to buy it and which card to put it on. Checked on pid.cz and pidlitacka.cz on November 12, 2026.
How the Prague metro works: three lines A/B/C, operating hours, tickets and their prices, validation, transfers and night transport — explained simply for newcomers and tourists.
Prague has two outlets, Fashion Arena and POP Airport, both open daily 10:00–20:00. Addresses, the buses that go there, the main malls and how non-EU tourists claim back VAT.
A breakdown of which Czech public holidays legally require large supermarkets to close, which shops always stay open, and whether stores are open on 17 November.
24-hour pharmacies in Prague are mostly found at hospitals and a few spots in the centre — the city has around eight or nine pharmacies running on a genuine 24/7 schedule. The most convenient for visitors and residents alike are Lékárna Palackého (Praha 1, near Wenceslas Square) and the pharmacy at Nemocnice Na Františku.
The Czech holiday calendar 2026 includes 13 non-working days. By law, they fall into two categories: 7 state holidays (státní svátky) and 7 other official holidays (ostatní svátky), but January 1 belongs to both categories, so the number of unique holiday dates comes out to exactly 13.
According to the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ), Prague's population stood at 1,405,551 people as of March 31, 2026 — an all-time high and roughly 13% of the entire Czech population. Prague remains by far the country's largest city: more people live here than in Brno and Ostrava combined.
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